About
Dr. Anthony Pozzessere
Raised in the coal-mining region of northeastern Pennsylvania, it was during his youth that Dr. Pozzessere developed a strong work ethic while playing multiple sports and pursuing his studies. He graduated from Hazleton Area High School with the highest honors and as captain of the varsity baseball team.
After high school, he moved to Philadelphia to attend Saint Joseph’s University on an academic scholarship. He graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Chemistry and a minor in Health Care Ethics. During his time at St. Joe’s, he also worked in the Service-Learning Department, where he developed a commitment to serving others, and participated in multiple service immersion trips to impoverished regions of Appalachia, a Native American reservation in New Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
The loss of a loved one enlightened him with the awareness that life was short, and he wanted to use his abilities to pursue a purpose that would provide others with the ability to live the best life they could.
Thus, he decided to stay in Philadelphia to pursue his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College.
He maintained his commitment to service throughout his time at Jefferson, volunteering at JeffHOPE’s street-side clinics for homeless Philadelphians. With a small group of classmates, he also founded a medical student organization helping refugees navigate the health care system, which has since blossomed into a multifaceted project, including student-run free clinics. Dr. Pozzessere moved to California to complete his residency in general surgery at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. During his time in Santa Barbara, he developed a strong interest in minimally invasive and complex gastrointestinal surgery and decided to pursue fellowship training in Advanced Gastrointestinal Surgery at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey. He knew the knowledge and experience he would gain at this specific program would provide him with the well-rounded comprehension and aptitude he would need to be able to provide his patients with the care they might not be able to get elsewhere. In fellowship, he gained extensive training in laparoscopy and robotic surgery, treating benign and malignant diseases of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, and intestines, as well as repairing and reconstructing the abdominal wall and inguinal hernias. Outside of medicine, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, playing guitar, and collecting vinyl records.
- American College of Surgeons
- Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
- The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
- Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association
- International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association
- Clinical Robotic Surgery Association
- Assistant Program Director, Advanced Gastrointestinal Surgery Fellowship at The Valley Hospital
- Associate Director of The Department of Surgery at The Valley Hospital
- Clinical Robotics Surgery Association 9th Worldwide Congress 09/22/2017 Chicago, IL. Robotic resection of submucosal mass three years after sleeve gastrectomy: a rare case of desmoid tumor.
- Clinical Robotics Surgery Association 9th Worldwide Congress 09/22/2017 Chicago, IL. Synchronous ductal adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas: two cases and two approaches for robotic spleen-preserving total pancreatectomy.
- SAGES Annual Meeting 03/25/2017 Houston, TX. Robotic Total Pancreatosplenectomy – Technical Steps
- SAGES Annual Meeting 03/22/2017 – 03/25/2017 Houston, TX. Ligament of Treitz – Images and Surgical Implications during Robotic Whipple Procedure
- Surgical Grand Rounds 05/25/2016. Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara, CA. The Hepatopancreatic Ampulla and its Sphincter Complex
- Southern California Chapter of the American College of Surgeons 01/18/2015. Annual Meeting, General Plenary Session, Santa Barbara, CA. Dabigatran Use Does Not Increase Intracranial Hemorrhage in Traumatic Geriatric Falls When Compared to Warfarin
- American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma 10/23/2014. Resident Research Competition, Los Angeles County Medical Center. Dabigatran Use Does Not Increase Intracranial Hemorrhage in Traumatic Geriatric Falls When Compared to Warfarin
- Pozzessere A, Grotts J, Kaminski S. Dabigatran Use Does Not Increase Intracranial Hemorrhage in Traumatic Geriatric Falls When Compared with Warfarin. American Surgeon. 2015 Oct; 81(10):1039-1042.
- Weissman GE, Morris RJ, Ng C, Pozzessere AS, Scott KC, Altshuler MJ. Global health at home: a student-run community health initiative for refugees. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. 2012; 23(3):942-948.
- Forman MA, Moran C, Herres J, Chopko E, Pozzessere A, Kerrigan M, Kelly C, Lowchyj L, Salandria K, Gallo A, Loutzenhiser E. Generation and Reactions of Pentacyclo[4.3.0.02,4.03,8.05,7]non-4-ene. Journal of Organic Chemistry. 2007 Mar; 72(8):2996-3005.
Specialties
Specific Specialties
Esophagus and Stomach
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Benign and malignant tumors
- Peptic ulcer disease
- Hiatal hernia
- Achalasia
Gallbladder and Bile ducts
- Gallstone disease
- Bile duct obstruction
- Benign and malignant tumors
- Achalasia
Pancreas
- Benign and malignant tumors
- Cystic disease
- Complications of pancreatitis
Small Intestines and Colorectal
- Benign and malignant tumors
- Diverticular disease
- Appendicitis
- Obstruction
Hernia
- Ventral/incisional
- Hiatal
- Umbilical
- Inguinal
Solid Organ
- Adrenalectomy
- Splenectomy
Patient-Centered Care
Dr. Pozzessere demonstrates a genuine desire to provide patient-centered care, where he and his team work to provide the best possible outcome no matter what the barriers, including financial adversities. His attentiveness and ability to develop a relationship with each individual patient illustrates his commitment to their well-being.
Dr. Pozzessere’s patients are confident that he and his team truly care about their journey to a successful recovery and achieving their desired outcomes. For Dr. Pozzessere, serving his community as a surgeon is not just a career; it is his calling.
